LAKKI MARWAT, July 28: Prices of food items have increased during first week of Ramazan in all bazaars of Lakki Marwat district and traders are violating official price list without any fear of action.

During a visit to bazaars in Lakki city, this correspondent noted that people had been complaining of high prices of several essential commodities, including pulses and fruit.

“Fruit prices have recorded sharp increase during last one week,” said one Zarwali Khan on Saturday. He said that mango was now available at Rs80 per kg and banana at Rs150 a dozen. One Hameed said that the local administration had failed to control overcharging by traders. Ahmad Nawaz complained about sale of low quality beverages. He said that the government should take practical measures to extend relief to people during the holy month.

Residents have called upon the district administration to regularly check prices of daily-use items in local bazaars and provide relief to them from hoarders and profiteers.

Meanwhile, the district administration has fixed price of ice at Rs7.50 per kilogramme. The matter was discussed at a meeting chaired by DCO Nisar Ahmed, following public complaints about high price of ice. It also directed factory owners to provide ice at Rs5 per kg to dealers.

Speaking at the meeting the DCO directed the price magistrates to honestly do their duty during Ramazan and ensure supply of food items to consumers on controlled prices.

DPO Umar Riaz also visited bazaars in Lakki city and directed station house officers to visit bazaars in their jurisdiction along with price magistrates and initiate legal action against violators of official price list.

Protest: Residents of Serai Gambila blocked Indus Highway here on Saturday to protest against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company for its failure to repair a transformer and restore electricity to the area.

Led by Jamaat-i-Islami local chief Maulana Asadullah Haqqani the protesters, including local traders, said that the transformer was out of order since last one week, but despite repeated requests the Pesco officials did not bother to repair it.

Eyewitnesses said that police fired shots in the air to disperse protesters and get the highway opened for traffic. Later, the protesters dispersed when DPO Umar Riaz told them that the faulty transformer would be repaired in next two days.